1990 | Chateau Montelena | Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

Tremendous complexity, depth and richness, with sharply focused layers of currant, anise, cedar, tobacco and spice, firming on the finish.

Reviews:

• Wine Advocate: Medium to deep garnet-brick in color, the 1990 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate sings with amazing expressiveness, sporting crème de cassis, blueberry tart and dried roses on the nose with touches of cloves, cigar box and Bovril. Medium-bodied, the palate is chock full of expressive black and blue fruit preserves with velvety tannins and a long, spicy finish.

• Vinous: Good medium amber-tinged red, with a healthy rim owing to the small crop. Aromas of plum, earth and hazelnut; shortly after the wine's release I read its nutty quality as an herbaceous element but not today. The plushest and silkiest of these wines to this point of the tasting but quite dry and classic too, showing surprising acidity to frame its cherry, dark berry and licorice flavors. Concentrated, tactile and smooth; this is altogether suaver than preceding vintages. The tannins arrive later, gently coating the palate. Barrett noted that this was his first vintage with a gentler destemmer.

Producer Information

Chateau Montelena is one of the most prominent Napa Valley wineries. It was directly associated with bringing international recognition to the California wine industry through the 1976 Judgment of Paris. Based in Calistoga, it is famous for its varietal Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay wines. Despite its claim to fame with Chardonnay, the flagship wine of Chateau Montelena has actually been its Estate Cabernet Sauvignon. It was born in the early 1980s, when the estate vines had matured enough to start producing quality fruit. After fermentation in stainless steel, it is barrel-aged in a series of tunnels and caves beneath the winery for up to 22 months. Also sourced from Chateau Montelena's home vineyard is the Estate Zinfandel. After extensive investment into reworking the vineyard, the 2018 vintage saw the wine return from a five year hiatus. Other wines in the collection are predominately sourced from the Napa Valley and include a Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and a Petit Syrah. Chateau Montelena also produce a Riesling, sourced from vineyards within the Potter Valley AVA. Fire damage in the 2018 growing season meant that for the first time since 1972, the Potter Valley Riesling was not released.

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